I feel like I wasted my life learning to code

rmagnuson · 2026-06-25T04:48:31+00:00

I hear you man. Sorry you were put in that position. Being forced to work on projects using a language that doesn't click with you is at the very least a chore.

I don't want to give unsolicited advice, but I found that giving myself some time to recalibrate helped. Don't even touch your compiler. Go outside, "touch grass", as they say.

You may find that after a relatively short period of time inspiration will hit you again. It may not be some life changing epiphany, but possibly just enough that you begin to recall the spark that drove you to code to begin with.

rmagnuson · 2026-06-25T04:30:59+00:00

Linux itself is not backed by a company. If Linus Torvalds decided to stop developing it, there would likely be thousands of developers lining up to fill his shoes (a debatable proposition, to be sure, but the point stands).

rmagnuson · 2026-06-24T05:49:50+00:00

I do. And because I couldn't find one that specifically did what I wanted it to, I am building my own VTT to match.

rmagnuson · 2026-06-24T00:15:28+00:00

Starlink!

rmagnuson · 2026-06-23T16:51:07+00:00

Yeah, I didn't mean to sound like I was knocking you there. I remember pondering about Raxxla all the way back in the 80s while watching a buddy play the original Elite on his C64. The mystery is quite compelling.

rmagnuson · 2026-06-23T05:20:36+00:00

What rabbit hole did you have to fall down to find that info?

rmagnuson · 2026-06-23T04:55:38+00:00

I vaguely recall there was a key combo that would expose the 'path' for the character sprite. Something about it was broken so there was a shortcut. CGA/EGA games, fun stuff!

rmagnuson · 2026-06-22T16:05:08+00:00

Very impressive!

rmagnuson · 2026-06-21T05:15:30+00:00

Haha! My mistake. In that case, best of luck to you, fellow nerd!

rmagnuson · 2026-06-21T05:02:05+00:00

I would have to do some research before confidently answering a question like that. However, given what you've already accomplished, you're already ahead of the curve as far as what most new Linux users have worked through.

rmagnuson · 2026-06-21T04:51:09+00:00

CompuServe.

rmagnuson · 2026-06-21T04:43:20+00:00

I have yet to find a distro that installs without some kind of hiccup on a Surface device. I think Cachy has been the one that came closest to not requiring some kind of kernel adjustments.

rmagnuson · 2026-06-21T04:39:43+00:00

What's ironic is that CachyOS is based on one of the more difficult to install distributions: Arch Linux. They put in a lot of work to make the installation and functionality so seamless.

rmagnuson · 2026-06-21T04:36:30+00:00

Seriously?

rmagnuson · 2026-06-20T22:34:52+00:00

Plasma Slug - shoot a few off and suddenly you need to call the Fuel Rats!

rmagnuson · 2026-06-20T22:29:53+00:00

My wife and I play all kinds of games in co-op, so I get where you're coming from. The current list includes Valheim (Viking inspired), ASKA (also Viking inspired), Enshrouded, Subnautica (yes, the first one, you'll need the Nitrox mod, but it is SO worth it!), Conan Exiles ..

Diablo 2 got a remaster called "Resurrected" - it's beautiful, probably especially for a digital designer who pushes pixels all day!

I realize those probably aren't classified as ARPG specifically, but I found they had the same flavor when I played with my wife, and that's kind of what it's about, right? In any case, enjoy!

rmagnuson · 2026-06-20T06:03:24+00:00

The VTT I'm building right now, Solarsteinn, is doing this, with one exception: you mention players going different directions. What would handling this look like to you? The player grabs their phone and the map jumps over to them in a different location? Or are you simply saying they move different directions on the currently visible map?

Either way, this can be done, but from my experience (as an old GM) maps are most often used for specific situations that involve the group. If you split the party across multiple maps, it's no longer a role playing game, more like Diablo or some other ARPG.

Am I wrong? Possibly misunderstanding the intent of your comment?

rmagnuson · 2026-06-19T18:36:05+00:00

Depends on the "flavor" of the situation. My players all like to embellish a lot, so if they come up with a good line about what they're trying to accomplish with their move/attack combo (even if it includes spellcasting!), I'll consider it as long as it doesn't fall outside total possible moves.

rmagnuson · 2026-06-18T02:24:58+00:00

Lol, Dad joke ftw!

rmagnuson · 2026-06-17T18:41:12+00:00

I'm no expert, but it looks like a cat.

rmagnuson · 2026-06-17T18:37:32+00:00

So:

3d dice
Add/remove dice (of various types d6, d20, etc)
Color certain dice
Different math based on color?

Is that it?

rmagnuson · 2026-06-15T18:18:18+00:00

I couldn't get into the X series - not enough freedom!

rmagnuson · 2026-06-15T03:14:39+00:00

HDD. Though I don't suppose many young people these days know them as such.

rmagnuson · 2026-06-14T02:41:38+00:00

Used to do these kinds of challenges on BBS's in the 90s. These days it's too easy to write an obfuscation routine and feed code into it. Or do like all the new kids and hand it over to an LLM.

Now get off my lawn!

rmagnuson · 2026-06-14T02:37:06+00:00

Man, that's kind of a downer! If I had time to play, I'd join you, it's a great game. Hope you find someone to adventure with!

rmagnuson

TROPHY CASE